Parisienne Walkways | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| 12/8 (A E C) | Am | Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 | F | Bm7b5 | E7sus4 E7 | A5 N.C (A E C) |
Verse 1
| Am | Dm7 |
I remember Paris in ’49.
| Dm7/G | Cmaj7 |
The Champs-Élysées, Saint Michelle and old Beaujolais wine.
| F | Bm7b5 E7 |
And I recall that you were mine,
| A D/A | A5 N.C |
in those Parisienne days.
Solo
| Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 |
| Bm7b5 | Esus4 E | A Asus4 |
Verse 2
| A5 N.C | Dm7 |
Looking back at the photographs.
| Dm7/G | Cmaj7 |
Those summer days spent outside corner cafes.
| Fmaj7 | Bm7b5 |
Oh, I could write you paragraphs,
| B7 | E7 F7 | E7 N.C | N.C |
about my old Parisienne days.
Solo
| Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Bm7b5 E7 |
||: Am Dm7 | Am F E :|| x8
Parisienne Walkways Chords: Learn the progressions
There’s more to Parisienne Walkways‘ chords than one might first assume, it’s easy to be consumed by the impressive lead guitar work.
Let’s take a look at how each section is slightly varied, starting with the intro. The cello-like swells are an Am arpeggio, we then move around the cycle of 4th, although with some clever extensions.
Starting on VI – II, the V chord is actually a II chord, with its 4th in the bass, Dm7/G. Cmaj7 is chord I, and F is here not a maj7. E7sus4 – E gives extra tension, this is a IIIx. We then stop on an A5, not major, not minor, very clever.
| Am | Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 |
| F | Bm7b5 | E7sus4 E7 | A5 N.C (A E C) |
The first verse is the same as the intro, but only until the F chord.
| Am | Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 |
| F | Bm7b5 E7 | A D/A | A5 N.C |
In the bar of Bm7b5, we go to the E7 earlier, then play A (major!), D/A, and then stop.
The first solo goes straight to chord II. The F is now Fmaj7 and the D/A is now an Asus4.
| Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 | Fmaj7 |
| Bm7b5 | E7sus4 E | A Asus4 |
The next verse is again different! Towards the end, we go to a B7 chord, and E7, and F7.
| A5 N.C | Dm7 | Dm7/G | Cmaj7 |
| Fmaj7 | Bm7b5 | B7 | E7 F7 | E7 N.C | N.C |
The outro has, yet again, new chords!
||: Am Dm7 | Am F E :||
Parisienne Walkways was a co-write between Gary and Phil!
Parisienne Walkways was originally an instrumental piece. It wasn’t until Gary Moore played it to Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) one night and he started writing lyrics for it, that the song fell into place.
The huge note Moore holds at the end is easiest achieved by turning up the amp, preferably to 10.
Notice the similarities between the chord progression of Parisienne Walkways and Gary’s other smash hit, Still Got The Blues.
If you want to learn more about songwriting, look for how both melodies follow the chords.
Make sure you study the chords and lyrics for Parisienne Walkways as written above, what Matt plays in the video lesson is not complete and 100% correct.
I don’t blame him, the chords are extremely intricate and if you’re in your early twenties like he was when recording this, the solo is far more exciting!
Parisienne Walkways Chords | Related Pages
Five similar tunes with chords and lyrics
- Ain’t No Sunshine chords by Bill Withers
- Need Your Love So Bad chords by Fleetwood Mac
- Still Got The Blues chords by Gary Moore
- Texas Flood chords by Stevie Ray Vaughan
- The Thrill Is Gone chords by B.B. King
Gary Moore tunes
One of the greatest, and definitely loudest British blues guitar players of all time, Mr. Gary Moore.
Having appeared on more than 40 records, Gary Moore has recorded with Phil Lynott, Albert King, George Harrison, and Albert Collins.
Gary Moore on the web
Thin Lizzy tunes
Formed by bass player Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey in 1969, Irish Thin Lizzy would become world famous.
Their best-known tunes include Whiskey In The Jar, The Boys Are Back In Town, Jailbreak, Don’t Believe A Word, and Dancing In The Moonlight.
Thin Lizzy on the web
Blues & Jazz
The foundation upon which popular music stands, Blues & Jazz tunes must be explored in depth by the serious guitar player.
Learn from the best by studying the greatest tunes of the genres. Study the iconic licks and melodies to grasp the language of these most important styles.
Pop & Rock
Whenever a tune doesn’t fit into a specific genre, it tends to end up here, in the Pop & Rock section.
Learn tunes from Tom Petty, Eagles, Toto, Oasis, Elvis, Clapton, John Mayer, Kings Of Leon, R.E.M., Radiohead, Bruno Mars, and more.
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Parisienne Walkways chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
